Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 17, 2026

Postconditioning with Lactate-enriched Blood for Cardioprotection in ST-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction
Published on: May 28, 2019
Association of Exercise Preconditioning With Immediate Cardioprotection: A Review
Dick H J Thijssen1,2, Andrew Redington3,4, Keith P George1
1Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, England.
Importance:
Exercise reduces the risk of cardiovascular events, including through an underrecognized, clinically useful form of acute cardioprotection accessible after a single episode of exercise, which is called cardiovascular preconditioning.
Observations:
Preclinical evidence shows that 1 to 3 episodes of exercise per week will provide strong cardioprotection; gradual, modest cardiovascular risk factor modification or physiological artery remodeling cannot fully explain these benefits. This review highlights preclinical evidence that acute exercise-induced cardiac preconditioning has the ability to activate multiple pathways to confer immediate protection against ischemic events, reduce the severity of potentially lethal ischemic myocardiac injury, and act as a physiological first line of defense.
Conclusions And Relevance:
Independent of the protective benefits of long-term exercise training on risk factors and adaptation of the cardiovascular system, cardiovascular preconditioning may contribute to the immediate cardioprotection of exercise. In practical terms, this means that 1 episode of exercise can create clinically relevant cardioprotection.
Related Concept Videos
Exercise and Cardiovascular Response
Light to moderate physical activity initiates a series of interconnected responses in the body. The heart rate modestly increases in anticipation of the workout, followed by widespread vasodilation as oxygen consumption by skeletal muscles increases. This results in decreased peripheral resistance, increased capillary blood flow, and accelerated...
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation III: AED Use
Exercise and Cardiac Output
Sustained exercise increases the muscles' oxygen demand, which can be...
Exercise Stress Test
Exercise stress testing, commonly known as a treadmill test, is a noninvasive procedure used to evaluate cardiovascular function and diagnose heart conditions.
Definition
An exercise stress test measures the heart's response to exertion using a treadmill or stationary bicycle. Chest electrodes record the heart's electrical activity through an ECG, and blood pressure is monitored regularly.
Purposes
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation IV: Pharmacological Management
Cardiomyopathy III: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

